Transformation of marine air masses in the Fennoscandian Boreal forest – changes in aerosol, humidity, and clouds

<p>Fennoscandian boreal forest is a region with commonly occurring particle formation, which benefits from the abundance of biogenic volatile organic compounds emitted by the vegetation. The same vegetation also regulates the exchange of water vapour between the ecosystem and the atmosphere. Thus, as the forest has the potential to provide the two components needed in cloud formation, i.e. condensation nuclei and humidity, there is reason to suspect consequent changes in air masses that are influenced by the forest below.</p><p>We investigated the link between boreal forest air mass transport and cloud related properties in air masses that arrived to the SMEAR II station (61°10’N, 24°17’E, 170m a.s.l.), Finland, from between western and norther directions. These selected air masses were originally marine and travelled only across a land area with relatively minor anthropogenic emissions sources, allowing us to focus on biogenic influences. The source region and the time each air mass spent above land before arrival, were determined from 96-hour long air mass back trajectories. We used a long-term comprehensive data sets, spanning up to 11 growing seasons (April-September, 2006-2016).</p><p>Air masses with short transport times over the forest, often coincided with measurements of particles in smaller size ranges. Higher numbers of larger cloud condensation nuclei sized particles became more common in air masses with longer transport times over the forest. Similarly, air masses that spent little time over land, were often relatively cool and carried less water vapour. Whereas, higher specific humidities were more likely in air masses with longer times spent over land, as associated warming had most likely facilitated an increased uptake of water vapour from plant evapotranspiration. We also observed corresponding moderate increases in satellite observed cloud optical thickness and in-situ measured precipitation. Air masses with very short transport times over land were an exception, as these fast-moving air masses are likely to be connected to weather fronts and therefore also have a high probability for clouds and precipitation. The reported differences between air masses more or less disappeared when the transport time over land reached approximately 60 hours, and any further increase in land transport time no longer caused a substantial change. This appears to be the time scale in which most of the forest environment’s influence on these cloud related properties is realised and a balance is reached.</p>